Hostage in California bank robbery killed by police gunfire

Authorities said that a woman, who was taken hostage during a Northern California bank robbery last month, was fatally shot by police.

The Associated Press noted that a ballistics report from the July 16 robbery showed that the bullets that killed Misty Holt-Singh were from Stockton police officers, Chief Eric Jones said Monday.

The Stockton Record reported that the 41-year-old mother of two was held hostage by the robbers, along with two employees at the Bank of the West branch.

The events that unfolded that day included a pursuit and a shootout with police. Holt-Singh and two robbery suspects Alex Gregory Martinez, 27, and Gilbert Renteria Jr., 30, died in the gun battle with police. A third suspect, 19-year-old Jamie Ramos, was apprehended and has been charged with murder.

Investigators believe that Ramos may have used Holt-Singh as a human shield against the officers in the exchange of gunfire.

The two other female hostages survived that day after either being tossed out of or jumping out of a carjacked vehicle during the police chase.